Poll shows Americans oppose entitlement cuts to deal with debt problem

[cal04]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/poll-shows-americans-oppose-entitlement-cuts-to-deal-with-debt-problem/2011/04/19/AFoiAH9D_story.html

Despite growing concerns about the country’s long-term fiscal problems and an intensifying debate in Washington about how to deal with them, Americans strongly oppose some of the major remedies under consideration, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

The survey finds that Americans prefer to keep Medicare just the way it is. Most also oppose cuts in Medicaid and the defense budget. More than half say they are against small, across-the-board tax increases combined with modest reductions in Medicare and Social Security benefits. Only President Obama’s call to raise tax rates on the wealthiest Americans enjoys solid support.

On Monday, Standard & Poor’s, for the first time, shifted its outlook on U.S. creditworthiness to “negative” because of the nation’s accumulating debt. The announcement rattled investors and could increase pressure on both sides in Washington to work out a broader deal as part of the upcoming vote over increasing the government’s borrowing authority.

(snip)
The Post-ABC poll finds that 78 percent oppose cutting spending on Medicare as a way to chip away at the debt. On Medicaid — the government insurance program for the poor — 69 percent disapprove of cuts.

[dkf]

1. We all want a pony.

Sad.

[Hannah Bell]

6. oh bullshit on that "pony" crap.

[freshwest]

2. Sounds wacky. Most I've heard say cut defense, leave social safety net in place, tax the rich.

[pacalo]

3. K&R.

Entitlements. Oh, brother. I am indeed entitled to get back what I paid into my FICA payroll taxes for Social Security & Medicare when I retire. In effect, these "entitlements" should be more appropriately called "retirement savings accounts".

And Sen. Durbin is WRONG when he presumes that congress has a right to cut any of the money we put into our retirement plans.

[dkf]

4. It's only a retirement savings account if it purchased an asset that produces earnings or income.

If it goes from a contributor to a recipient it's a ponzi scheme. Pay as you go funds only work when there are quite a bit more people putting in than taking out. If there are too many taking out and not enough putting in it collapses.

What Social Security has going for it is it is sponsored by the US. What it doesn't have going for it is that these things just don't work numbers wise.

[Hannah Bell]

7. what a bunch of crap.

[Pholus]

8. You mean a ponzi scheme like corporate pensions in the 90's were?

You know, the ones that magically converted into large bonus checks for the executives?

But please keep going. I love corpodem logic!

[Enthusiast]

9. You're right, Senator Durbin is wrong.

He is either bought or he has lost touch.

[cal04]

5. Medicare Cuts: Broad Opposition to Republicans in Debt Debate

Americans Reject Medicare Cuts and Support Higher Taxes on the Wealthy
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/medicare-cuts-proposed-republicans-face-broad-opposition-abc/story?id=13412136

Americans strongly reject Medicare cuts and broadly support higher taxes on the wealthy, underscoring the political risks in Republican debt-reduction plans. And on one key factor in the debate -- protecting the middle class -- President Obama retains the upper hand.

Those and other results from the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll underscore the hazards of the federal spending debate for Republicans as well as for Obama. As poorly as the president is rated for handling the deficit -- just 39 percent approve -- the Republican leaders in Congress do a bit worse, with just 33 percent approval on the same issue.

Similarly, while just 42 percent approve of Obama's handling of the economy overall, fewer still, 34 percent, approve of how the Republicans in Congress are dealing with it. And the public by a 12-point margin trusts Obama to protect middle-class Americans, a theme he's likely to sound loudly and often as the 2012 election campaign warms up.

[Mnemosyne]

10. But who cares what we think...? K&R n/t